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Following in the foodsteps of the Packaged Foods Exposed series, the Agri-Business Exposed series will explore the major agricultural companies whose names are rarely heard by the eating public.

The ingredients entering into the staples of our diet rarely, if ever, originate from the company that produced the final product. Behind the Krafts, Nestles, Coca-Colas and Pizza Huts of the world, are the large corporations that deal with the most important person in the process; the farmer.

The Cargill Exposé
It is fitting to launch this series by exploring the most influential and powerful agri-business in the world; Cargill. As one of the largest private companies in the world, Cargill's $75.2 billion in sales employs 149,000 people in 63 countries. But the Minnesota-based company utilizes a strategy that situates much of their presence behind the scenes, and upon addressing the scope of this company's influence, their operations and products make their sales figures and employment statistics close to meaningless. Cargill sets the stage for agriculture and food around the world, and a better understanding of this company, is a better understanding of our dinners.

Guests for Part I of the 2-part Cargill Exposé

Brewster Kneen, Author/Publisher, The Ram's Horn (Ottawa, ON) - Brewster was born in Ohio and studied economics and theology in the U.S. and the U.K. before moving to Toronto in 1965. There he produced public affairs programs for CBC Radio, and worked as a consultant to the churches on issues of social and economic justice. In 1971, with his wife Cathleen and their children Jamie and Rebecca, he moved to Nova Scotia, where they farmed until 1986, starting with a cow-calf operation and then developing a large commercial sheep farm. When he stopped farming, he developed a devoted interest to learn more about Cargill than perhaps anyone has ever attempted. The second edition of his book "Invisible Giant" (2002), provides the most current and comprehensive source for any eater interested in learning more about the origins of our food.

John Sauven, Campaign Director, Greenpeace (London, UK) - Greenpeace has been very active in exposing the operations of Cargill in Brazil's Amazon. Their 2006 report titled "Eating Up The Amazon", illustrated the soya crisis through an analysis of both Cargill and the European operations of McDonald's. The report documents the path taken by soya from illegally cleared farms, to Cargill and its customers. With the hope of raising awareness about the company's activities abroad, Greenpeace has staged a number of protests that have succesfully disrupted Cargill's operations.

• Cargill
• Cargill Canada
• Invisible Giant
• Pluto Press
• Greenpeace
• The Ram's Horn
• Brewster Kneen's Cargill Profile
• Sustainable Table - Workers

• Better Beef
• Saskferco
• Cargill AgHorizons
• Agribrands Purina
• Prarie Malt Ltd.
• Cargill Speciality Canola Oils
• Horizon Milling
• Egg Solutions
• Wilbur Chocolate

• "Eating Up The Amazon" - Greenpeace
• "Greenpeace Activists in Brazil Block Cargill Soy Facility" - Greenpeace
• "Greenpeace slams US commodities giant for Amazon crimes" - Greenpeace
• "KFC exposed for trashing the Amazon rainforest for buckets of chicken" - Greenpeace
• "Soya producers 'will do better'" - BBC
• "Cargill - arrogance incorporated" - Corporate Watch
• "Submission to the Federal Competition Bureau regarding the proposed takeover of Better Beef Ltd. by Cargill" - NFU
• "Cargill's dominance a concern" - Western Producer
• "Paraguay Sojero - Soy Expansion and its Violet Attack on Local And Indigneous Communities in Paraguay" - Grupo de Reflexion Rural
• "GM soy war in Paraguay" - Network of Concerned Farmers
• "Control by the Food Cartel Companies" - EIR
• "Packers Taking Advantage of BSE Crisis" - NFU
• "Bum Steer" - Globe and Mail
• "Lifting the Veil" - B.I.G.
• "Behind the Veil of Science" - B.I.G.
• "Cargill and price fixing" - Oligopoly Watch

• "Dramatic footage of Amazon being burned to plant soya" - Greenpeace